Early start might have flummoxed USM

Updated 8:44 pm, Monday, October 10, 2016

Photo: Matthew Busch, Photographer / For The San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA's Michael Egwuagu, left, comforts Nate Gaines after a touchdown pass went to the man Gaines was defending during UTSA's game against Old Dominion at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday, November 7, 2015. less

UTSA's Michael Egwuagu, left, comforts Nate Gaines after a touchdown pass went to the man Gaines was defending during UTSA's game against Old Dominion at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday, November 7, ... more

Photo: Matthew Busch, Photographer / For The San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA Roadrunners safety Nate Gaines celebrates after making an interception during first half action against the Arizona State Sun Devils Friday Sept. 16, 2016 at the Alamodome.

UTSA Roadrunners safety Nate Gaines celebrates after making an interception during first half action against the Arizona State Sun Devils Friday Sept. 16, 2016 at the Alamodome.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA’s Michael Egwuagu celebrates after a tackle against Southern Miss at the Alamodome on Oct. 8, 2016.

UTSA’s Michael Egwuagu celebrates after a tackle against Southern Miss at the Alamodome on Oct. 8, 2016.

Photo: Ron Cortes /For The Express-News

Early start might have flummoxed USM

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UTSA scored on its first four possessions in the Roadrunners' landmark triumph over Southern Mississippi.

There might have been a reason for the Roadrunners’ fast start Saturday at the Alamodome besides early on-the-field success, senior strong safety Michael Egwuagu said.

Egwuagu has developed a friendship with USM quarterback Nick Mullens over the years.

Mullens explained after the game that the Golden Eagles weren’t accustomed to playing or even working in the morning for the 11 a.m. kickoff.

Egwuagu and the Roadrunners were better suited because they typically work most mornings and attend classes in the afternoon.

"I asked him if he ever gets up this early and Nick said, no, all of their games are at 6 p.m.,” Egwuagu said, chuckling. “It’s crazy.”

The early start might have provided the Roadrunners a small advantage they were quickly able to exploit.

“I guarantee a lot of those guys were still tired,” Egwuagu said. “Waking up at 6 a.m. for the first time is something they never had to.”

Video: Egg on early start video

UTSA free safety Nick Gaines credited another factor for UTSA fast start leading to its victory.

“Last year, one of the things I noticed last year was that they hit us in the mouth early,” said Gaines, who was injured for last season’s game at Hattiesburg, Miss. “We could never come back from that.

"This year, we hit them and kept pounding and pounding and pounding and had our feet on their throat and we didn’t let up. They couldn’t come back from that.”

Video: Nate video on physical answer for USM

It fulfilled a pledge that Gaines and his teammates made not to let the Golden Eagles intimidate them again after last season.

“They weren’t going to go into the dome and bully us around,” Gaines said. “We drew a line across the sand and said ‘C’mon, let’s do it.’ ”